The life and times of thirty-something single parent, her young, adrenaline-fuelled son Chunk and their equally adrenaline-fuelled puppy Yogi. There's even some handy Allotment, Gardening and DIY tips, Recipes, Arts and Crafts, Home and Parenting Tips.
Giveaways, linkys and product reviews are occasionally added in for your enjoyment too.

Pages

Connect With Me!

Saturday, 13 December 2014

How To Make A Christmas Stocking From A Jumper

DryNites ran this great crafty event

I took Chunk on his very first train journey last weekend (which he LOVED) as we were invited to a crafting day with DryNites.

The BBC2 Great British Sewing Bee finalist Tamara Melvin hosted the event and taught us and three other mummy bloggers and their children to make some Christmas crafts that are designed to bring some grown-up touches to little people's bedrooms.

I really enjoyed sitting making things whilst chatting to other mums about the joys of potty training. Chunk is at the stage of being interested when others around him are doing it, but then having days of not wanting to go near a potty. He is a big boy, so nights are becoming more difficult as we are having a few leaks from nappies, so I was pleased to hear that there are DryNites that are designed to hold a lot more urine to help stop this!

DryNites® bedwetting expert Emma Kenny said: ‘The key is to focus on things that are age-appropriate and support them through this stage of their development. That’s why the craft projects Tamara has created will not only transform their bedrooms, but also act as a reminder of just how grown up they are and how much they are achieving throughout their days.’

Tamara, who has two children herself, said of these great craft ideas: ‘Christmas time is the perfect time to get crafty with your little one. The festive craft projects I have devised include a personalised Christmas stocking which your little one can leave for Santa at the end of their bed, and a decoration that they can make to hang in their bedroom window to give them an extra confidence boost at bed time."

The Start of Our Stocking!

My favourite craft was making a Christmas stocking out of an old jumper, because you know how much I love my upcycling projects!

It's been a few years since I attempted proper sewing (for good reason) but thankfully Tamara was a very good teacher! Chunk made the pompom which I was very proud of, and it took pride of place on the stocking of course.
Here is Chunk's stocking and I've added instructions on how to make your own one, as these are surprisingly easy and quite gorgeous! I intend to keep using Chunk's one each year so it becomes a tradition he can look back on and maybe even do with his own children.

Our Gorgeous Homemade Stocking!

Christmas Stocking Instructions

Equipment:

·Sewing machine (optional)

·Paper and fabric scissors

·Pins

·Stocking pattern

·Snowman/tree template

·Embroidery needle

·Printer for initial template

Materials:

·An old jumper

·Felt

·Embroidery thread

·Buttons

·Ribbon

·Glitter foam sheet

·Thread

·Wool

·Bauble/bell

1. Start
off by cutting your pattern as a template for the stocking.If you have an existing stocking you can use
that to draw around.If not use a ruler
and French curve to help to get the shape right.“Waffle” craft fabric works well instead of
paper as it doesn’t tear and is more like a fabric.

2. Place
your pattern piece on your jumper, choosing carefully which part of the jumper
you’d like to use.Cardigans are a nice
choice because of the button detail.Try
to avoid V neck jumpers as there is generally less fabric to work with.Men’s jumpers work the best as they are
bigger. Pin well as knitted fabric tends to stretch.

3.To
make the initial on your stocking, open a word document on your pc/laptop and
type your desired letter.Print it out
and make sure it is the size you want to use on your design.Flip it over and place on your foam.Be sure to use the reverse side as you are
drawing the shape on the back of the foam.Using a permanent pen, trace around the outline. This should seep
through the paper to the foam below. Carefully cut your letter using small
scissors or a scalpel.

4. Next,
make your embellishment using the felt.You
could use two items from your kitchen to make your snowman shape.It could be that you use an egg cup and a
mug. Be creative and play around with what you have at home.Hand cut out a little hat and a carrot.Place your initial and snowman or tree on the
front of your stocking.

5. Sew
your initial and decoration by hand or with your sewing machine, taking it slow
at the corners and curves.If you are
hand stitching, use embroidery thread and make your stitches even.You could add buttons for eyes, a hand sewn
smile and a ribbon scarf.Then, placing
right sides together, pin and either hand or machine-sew both to create your
stocking.Now you are ready to make your
pom-pom decoration.

6. An
easy way to make your pom-pom is to use a fork.Wrapping the wool around the “prongs” and then threading wool or ribbon
in the central gap and gathering the hoops together.Keeping the pom-pom on the fork, snip the
ends and fluff it out.Alternatively you
can use a pom-pom maker which is just as quick, but you’ll have the option to
make different sizes with this gadget. You could slide a bauble and bell onto the
hanging ribbon or wool.Make a loop with
the hanging ribbon and add the pom-pom and bell/bauble.Either hand or machine stitch this to the
inside seam.

Now
you are ready to fill it with lovely things!

I was invited to this craft event by DryNites. No payment was received and all opinions are honest and my own.